Apple Faces Lawsuit over Defective iMac Screens

By Jeff Gamet

Oct 30th, 2013 9:30 AM EDT

Apple is facing a potential US$5 million class action lawsuit over allegations that it sold 27-inch iMacs with faulty displays. The lawsuit, filed by Corbin Rasmussen, claimed that half his iMac display failed after 18 months and that Apple wanted US$500 for the repair. He also claimed that this is a widespread issue Apple refused to address.

Defective iMac screens pushed one buyer into a class action lawsuit

Mr. Rasmussen filed his case in U.S. District Court in the San Jose division for the Northern District of California where he could use California's consumer protection laws as the foundation for the claim. According to the filing, Mr. Rasmussen feels Apple misled consumers by selling them iMacs with displays that failed prematurely.

According to the complaint, hundreds of 27-inch iMac buyers suffered from an issue where a few months after their warranty expired about half of the display stopped working. It also claimed that when Apple updated the iMac line in 2011 it didn't make any changes to the display or video card to prevent the issue from hitting future buyers.

Mr. Rasmussen said that Apple's marketing led him to believe the iMac was "designed for a long productive life," and that 18 months of usability doesn't live up to that claim.

He filed the lawsuit on behalf of himself and other 27-inch iMac owners in the U.S. who purchased their computer before December 2012. The suit targets iMacs that used LG's LED backlit display.